Friday, July 11, 2008 Resto chain comes to Cebu, offers Japanese-style cooking
“STYLIZED” Filipino food is what a new restaurant in the city offers to Cebuanos who are known for their discriminating taste.
“We are very happy to be in Cebu,” said Sen. Francis Pangilinan, part-owner of the Lamesa Grill chain of restaurants in Manila.
Manila-based FRD Food and Spices partnered with LM Grill Cebu Corp. to open the first Lamesa Grill branch outside of Metro Manila at the Northwing of SM City Cebu.
LM Grill Cebu Corp. (LGCC) is operated by business partners Edwin Ortiz and Ato Alvarez.
Pangilinan said FRD Food and Spices aims to expand the business. Part of its expansion strategy is to look for local partners outside Metro Manila, such as in the Visayas and the Mindanao.
Pangilinan, who was in Cebu last Thursday to grace the blessing of the Lamesa Grill restaurant, said he brought in the concept of “providing Filipino food using Japanese technology,” following a visit to Japan years ago.
The Japanese’s shabu-shabu, where food is prepared and cooked at the guests’ table, served as his inspiration.
More adventurous
Pangilinan then part-nered with restaurateur Ricki Dee and opened the first Lamesa Grill restaurant in 2006 at the SM Mall of Asia. A year after, another branch was opened at the Trinoma Mall.
Ortiz, president and managing director of LGCC, said that with the Cebuano becoming more adventurous when it comes to food choices, he and his partner were encouraged to introduce “something that’s good and tasty.”
Among the house specialties offered by the restaurant is the deep fried lechon in pandan-crepe wrapper.
“At first we were scared,” admitted Ortiz. But after Lamesa Grill in Cebu soft-opened on June 6, Ortiz and Alvarez have decided to open another outlet in Cebu.
The owners also saw a need to expand since its capacity of 120 people at the Northwing has been maximized.
Pangilinan confirmed that the Cebu branch often outsells Lamesa Grill branches in Manila.
The Lamesa Grill in Cebu is also distinctly furnished compared to the branches in Metro Manila, using Cebu-ano export furniture and accessories.
This year, Lamesa Grill will also open two additional branches in Glorietta and SM Megamall.
Plans of bringing the Lamesa Grill to San Francisco in California and Dubai are also underway. (DME)
